Metrea→
Head of Special Air Missions - US at Metrea in Tampa, FL
Job Description
Company Overview
Metrea delivers effects-as-a-service to national security partners across five domains and more than a dozen mission areas. These include airborne ISR, electronic warfare, secure communications, aerial refueling, special air missions, aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation. We own the whole stack: designing, building, and operating turnkey capabilities that give our partners decisive, asymmetric advantage against rapidly evolving threats.
Our operating model is built around three interlocking pillars. The Support Groups provide a global shared-service – spanning people, finance, platform, operations, legal, and engagement. This frees up our Core Groups, who develop and own mission capabilities end-to-end, to focus entirely on delivery. The Market Groups apply a regional lens, ensuring that our agile and adaptable capabilities remain aligned to the wicked problems that matter most to our partners across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific.
At the heart of our model is a simple but powerful idea: be a true partner with skin in the game. Our partners need effects, not just equipment. By owning the full stack – from the lab to the field – we are able to drive a continuous cycle of innovation that keeps our partners ahead. It's a fast-moving, intellectually demanding environment where talented people are given real responsibility, work on problems that matter, and contribute to an enterprise that is growing quickly and deliberately.
Headquartered in Washington, DC, with facilities across the United States, the United Kingdom, as well as Continental Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Group Overview
Special Air Missions Group (SAM) is responsible for developing and delivering Metrea’s Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), Special Mobility, and Aerial Firefighting (AFF) capabilities from the US. SAM oversees the integration of new mission systems, ensuring operational readiness across specialized aviation operations. It manages fleet maintenance, regulatory compliance, and strategic partnerships to enhance mission effectiveness. By consolidating expertise and infrastructure, SAM ensures Metrea’s airborne capabilities remain adaptable and mission-ready across dynamic operational environments.
Position Summary
The Head of SAM - US (H/SAM US) will lead both on and in the Group:
On the Group - designing and building best-in-class special mission Capability Areas (CAs), including processes, systems, and people.
In the Group - delivering exceptional aerospace services to some of Metrea’s highest-value pro-grams.
H/SAM US will serve as a Core Group member of Metrea’s Senior Leadership Team and play a central role in shaping and executing enterprise strategy. This position requires strong leader-ship, clear communication, and the ability to build trust with teammates at every level.
With the focus of “safe, assured, and scalable global aviation operations,” H/SAM US will drive the newly redesigned capability areas, creating a cohesive, efficient, and scalable organization to achieve the summits outlined in the Metrea Strategy Map. Above all, the role demands a builder—someone able to lead and collaborate across both the Group and the wider enterprise.
What You'll Do
Developing the Group Structure (“On the Group”)
- Lead the design and development of the SAM Group, implementing scalable, efficient processes
- Build industry-specific frameworks, financial models, and digital systems (in partnership with Operations) to enable workflow automation and meet government contracting requirements
- Provide decision support at tactical, operational, and strategic levels
- Identify growth opportunities in knowledge, skills, and culture; drive professional devel-opment and talent acquisition to build a high-performing team
- Foster a unified “One Team” culture rooted in humility, aligned with Metrea’s Individual Firmware attributes: Entrepreneurial, Systematic, Discerning, and Over Do'er
Providing Group Direction, Guidance & Support (“In the Group”)
- Lead development of the Group’s growth strategy through the annual Enterprise Value Case (EVC) cycle, delivering Strategic Milestones (SMs) and OKRs across SAM Capability Areas (CAs) in alignment with Metrea’s Strategy Map
- Contribute to Metrea’s Campaign Plan (CAMPLAN), Capability Plan (CAPEPLAN), and Marketing Plans (MPLAN) relevant to SAM
- Oversee performance reviews of SAM US CAs, ensuring progress against OKRs and KPIs; lead interventions when necessary
- Support reporting (monthly, quarterly, board) with strategic analysis, risk planning, and mitigation strategies
- Actively assess and shape Group risk exposure and opportunity management, influencing internal programs and potential acquisitions
- Provide market and customer-focused expertise to de-risk current programs and vali-date new opportunities
This role will be based out of the Tampa office with domestic and international travel.
What You Bring
- Senior leadership experience in aerospace & defense, with proven ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity through sound judgment
- Extensive special mission aircrew background, ideally with ISR expertise
- Deep knowledge of aviation regulatory environments (FAA), including hands-on Part 135 operations and prior accountable executive responsibility in the commercial sector
- Working knowledge of FAA Airworthiness and Maintenance procedures
- Proven experience engaging with senior stakeholders (customers, suppliers, partners) to represent the company at the highest levels
- Track record of leading teams, managing budgets, and delivering measurable results
- Familiarity with U.S. government budget cycles and procurement processes
- Flexibility to travel frequently, domestically and internationally, often on short notice
- Strong critical thinking, judgment, and attention to detail; intellectually curious and quick to adapt
- Skilled at identifying key issues, troubleshooting, and problem-solving to advance long-term strategic goals
- Highly organized, reliable, discreet, and disciplined, with strong execution skills
- Effective in matrixed, collaborative environments, with the ability to balance competing priorities
- Emotionally intelligent, adaptable, and intellectually humble, with the ability to challenge and refine one’s own thinking
Additional Eligibility Qualifications
Eligible to hold TS/SCI security clearance, and the ability to maintain it throughout employment.
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical plan options
- HSA/FSA accounts
- Dental and vision coverage
- 6% employer 401(k) match
- Fully paid parental leave for all new parents
- Generous PTO
- Life and disability insurance Long-term and Short-term disability coverage
- AD&D Coverage
- Pet Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Subsided gym membership / plans through Wellhub
Work Authorization / Security Clearance
- Applicants must be a U.S. citizen and legally authorized to work in the United States
- Position may require passing a government-administered background check
- Role will require adherence to export control regulations (ITAR/EAR)
- Employment is contingent on meeting all clearance and adjudication requirements
AAP/EEO Statement
Legal Entity is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.
Position Type and Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time exempt position with typical working hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours and work shifts may change in accordance with department and business needs. Exempt Employees must have the ability to be on-call and available, as business needs require.
Work Environment
This job operates in an office setting.
Travel
Domestic and International travel up to 35%.
Our Firmware
At Metrea, our single core value is Rooted in Humility, and our four cornerstone attributes are Entrepreneurial, Systematic, Discerning, and Over-Deliver. These form what we call our Teammate Firmware. Just like technical firmware connects software and hardware, our Firmware is the constant interface between our mission and our people. It defines how we show up, how we work together, and how we solve complex problems.
Our team Firmware creates a web-like, hyper-collaborative, dynamically hierarchical way of working that helps us adapt quickly, communicate openly, and distribute decision-making to where expertise actually lives. It enables groups to self-organize around hard problems, shift fluidly as priorities evolve, and operate with the trust, curiosity, and discipline required in a complex mission space. This foundation allows us to deliver elegant, effective solutions and uphold our purpose: protecting our precious inheritance.